Means for automatically preheating a clothes dryer



Nov. 17,- 1970 J. w. JACOBS MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PREHEATING A CLOTHES DRYER Filed Feb. 6, 1969 m: an a: ma

INVENIUR. 522m: 1/ 200.55

A T TORNE Y United States Patent 3,540,241 MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PREHEATING A CLOTHES DRYER James W. Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 797,213

Int. Cl. D06f 25/00 US. Cl. 68-12 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A washer dryer combination wherein an automatic washer is modified to connect with a 240 volt source and be selectively connected with a separate clothes dryer so that both the washer and dryer timing mechanisms receive 120 volts while 240 volts are supplied to the dryer heating element. The washer is also provided with circuitry including a manually operable preheat switch which, when closed, bypasses the dryer timer mechanism and energizes the dryer motor and its heating element at a predetermined time in the washing cycle. The time of energizing the heating element is selected to provide a sufiiciently preheated dryer at completion of the washing cycle so that the clothes inserted into the dryer are dried in minimum time.

With conventional separate clothes washing and drying machines, upon completion of a washing cycle and subsequent energization of the dryer circuitry, a certain period of time elapses before the dryer clothes chamber is sufficiently heated to initiate an elfective drying cycle. It is, therefore, a purpose of this invention to provide a means for preheating the large mass of a clothes dryer prior to completion of a washing cycle so that the clothes may be more rapidly dried when removed from the washer and placed in the dryer.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is the provision of means associated with a conventional washer timer to energize circuitry in an associated clothes dryer to preheat the dryer during the final phases of a washing cycle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means in an automatic washing machine supplying a 110 volt source to the dryer control circuitry while simultaneously making available a 240 volt source for the dryer heating elements.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a clothes washing machine containing modified control circuitry which allows the operator to manually select a dryer preheating cycle.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of control circuitry associated with a conventional clothes washing machine timing assembly that is operable to bypass the conventional dryer timing circuitry and energize the heating elements and dryer motor during a terminal portion of a washing cycle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of modified control circuitry in a clothes dryer connectable with a companion automatic clothes washing machine wherein the relatively large mass of the dryer can be preheated at a predetermined time during the washing cycle or the dryer can be operated independently of the washing machine.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a modified clothes washer having a clothes dryer electrically connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the interconnection between the washer control circuitry and the dryer control circuitry.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an automatic clothes washer 6 has a plug-in lead 8 which connects with an electrical source. A control panel 10 is provided on the upper portions of the washer and comprises the usual washer cycle selection switches as well as a preheat switch 12 which forms a part of this invention. The washer 6 is also modified to contain an electrical receptacle 14 receiving plug 16 secured to the free end of dryer lead 18. The dryer lead -18 connects with the control circuitry of dryer 20, which is selectively actuated via the usual switches on control panel 22. With this arrangement, the washer lead 8 connects with a 240 volt source and supplies 110 volts to slightly modified automatic washer control circuitry. Insertion of plug 16 within receptacle 14 connects dryer lead 18 with conventional three wire 120 volt and 240 volt sources through the washer so that the dryer may function in a conventional manner or under the influence of the washer timer as later described.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a washer 6 includes control circuitry 23 which is connected to the source via leads L1-N-L2 and contains an overload switch 24, a line switch 26, a lid switch 28 in series with an on and olT switch 30. The switch 30 is electrically connected with fill switches 32 and 34, spin solenoid 36, hot and cold water solenoids 38 and 40, load selector switch 42, and water temperature selector switch 44. The control circuitry also includes timer motor 46, speed selector switch 48, and a two-speed reversible motor 50 influenced by four-pole, six-pole, and phase windings as illustrated. The motor control circuitry also includes a capacitor selector switch 52.

The above described conventional washer control circuitry is modified to include a manually operable preheat switch 54 which is in series with parallel normally open switches 55 and 56. The socket member 14 contains female receptacles A-G connected respectively with source leads L2, N, L1, and switches 55, 56 and 64. Plug 16 connected to lead 18 includes blade terminals A'G' received within the receptacles A-G to provide electrical source supply to the dryer timing circuit, its heating elements, and connection to switches 55, 56 and 64 so that the washer timer may control the dryer during the final phases of a washing cycle.

The conventional dryer circuitry includes a door switch 72, a motor 74, timer 76, timer motor 78, control thermostat 80, temperature selector switch 82, limit switch 84, and heating element 86. Insertion of plug 16 Within socket member 14 connects dryer leads 66, 68 and 70 with source leads L1, N, and L2, respectively; leads 88 and 90 with switches 55 and 56; and leads 89 and 91 with switch 64. The normally open switches 55 and 56 are in a circuit with timer 76 and normally closed switch 64. is in circuit with timer motor 78. All three switches are controlled by preheat switch 54 and can be built into the washer timer.

In operation with the units connected together as described above, the preheat switch 54 is manually closed and the washer timer motor 46, at a predetermined point in the washing cycle, closes switches 55, 56 and opens switch 64 thus energizing dryer motor 74 through the switches 55 and 56 and lead 88 while heating element 86 is energized across 240 volts through leads 90; 92; 94; control thermostat 80; lead 96; limit switch 84; lead 98; element 86; lead 100; motor switch 102, which closes when the phase winding 104 is disconnected; and lead 106. Switch 102 is responsive to centrifugal force and consequently prevents the energizing of heater element 86 when motor 74 is not properly driving the dryer drum. The normally closed switch 64 is opened by the washer timer at this time to remove dryer timer motor 78 from the control circuit. Heating element 86 is energized and preheats the dryer 20 until the washer timer motor 46 opens switches 56 and 58 and again closes switch 64 to discontinue the preheating cycle. The clothes can then be removed from washer 6 and placed within the preheated dryer 20 at which time the operator may manually select the desired drying time via control 108 and the dryer operates under the influence of timer 76 and its motor 78 in a conventional manner.

While the above description is intended for purposes of illustration only, it is readily appreciated that the objective of this invention may be accomplished in various forms and therefore this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination; a clothes washer of the type performing when actuated a predetermined clothes washing cycle producing washed clothes ready for drying, the washer having an energy communicating connector adapted to receive an energy receiving connector, a clothes dryer effective to receive said clothes and dry the same, the dryer being energized at a predetermined time of energization less than the time of the clothes washing cycle, the dryer having an energy receiving connector to receive a source of electrical energy for dryer operation, the same being connected to the energy communicating connector; and control mechanism in the washer effective to energize the energy communicating connector after commencement of said washing cycle at a predetermined time prior to termination thereof.

2. In combination; a clothes washer of the type having a cam actuated switch mechanism driven by a timer motor performing when actuated a predetermined clothes washing cycle producing washed clothes ready for drying, the Washer having an energy communicating connector adapted to receive an energy receiving connector; a clothes dryer effective to receive said clothes and dry the same, the dryer-being energized at a predetermined time of energization less than the time of the clothes washing cycle, the dryer having an energy receiving connector to receive a source of electrical energy for dryer operation, the same being connected to the energy communicating connector; and a preheat selector switch movable between the dryer preheat and oil positions, said cam operated switch mechanism including a normally open cam switch cooperatively associated with cam ele ments actuating the same to a closed position when the timer motor has commenced the washing cycle at a predetermined time prior to termination thereof thereby preheating the dryer prior to completion of the washing cycle.

3. In combination; a clothes washer of the type having a cam operated switch mechanism driven by a timer motor performing when actuated a predetermined clothes washing cycle producing washed clothes ready for drying, the washer having an energy communicating connector adapted to receive an energy receiving connector; a clothes dryer effective to receive said clothes and dry the same; a preheat selector switch movable between on and oif positions; the dryer having an energy receiving connector to receive a source of electrical energy for dryer operation, the same being connected to the energy communicating connector and being in circuit with the dryer control circuitry, a manually actuated control switch on said dryer for energizing said dryer circuitry when said preheat switch is off; and circuitry connected with said preheat switch whereby movement of the preheat switch to the on position closes a dryer energizing circuit controlled by the washer timer, the cam operated switches in said washer timer closing the dryer control circuitry after said timer motor has commenced said washing cycle at a predetermined time prior to termination thereof.

4. In combination an automatic clothes washer and clothes dryer wherein each machine includes automatic timers and associated control circuitry and the dryer includes a 240 volt heating element, the improvement comprising: an electrical lead connected to the washer adapted to connect with a 240 volt source, the automatic timer in said washer connected to said source lead to receive 120 volts, a preheat switch connected to said washer timer, a plurality of switches in said washer control circuitry connected with the conventional dryer circuitry, and a plug connection in said dryer control circuitry connectable with said preheat switch and said plurality of switches whereby said dryer is supplied 120 volts in its control circuitry and 240 volts to its heating element, said preheat switch being manually movable between opened and closed position and when in a closed position said washer timer automatically energizes said dryer motor and said heating element through the actuation of said plurality of switches at a predetermined time in the washing cycle so that said dryer is preheated upon completion of the washing cycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 

